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Pernod Gets Approvals for Deal

Updated July 18, 2008 12:01 a.m. ET

Pernod Ricard SA won U.S. and European regulatory approval to acquire the Swedish state-owned spirits company Vin & Sprit AB, home to the Absolut vodka brand, but had to make concessions on both sides of the Atlantic.

To satisfy concerns at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission about competition among "superpremium" vodkas, Pernod said it would end its distribution agreement for Stolichnaya within six months of acquiring...